What does transition mean? The word ‘transition’ means the movement from one thing to another. In the context of your school life this might mean travelling from home to school each day or from one lesson to another. People also talk about ‘transition’ when they are describing the change from one phase in your life to another. For example, from early childhood to school when you are 4 years old, from primary school to secondary school when you are 11 years old and from secondary school to work, or higher education when you are 16 years old. All these ‘transitions’ are important milestones in your life and can be very difficult to understand and manage.

What are the main transition phases I should expect? The key education transition phases in any child’s life are:

Starting pre-school or playschool at 2.5 – 3 years

Starting primary school at 4 years

Moving up to a new year group

Moving between key stages , for example from key stage 1 to key stage 2 which, in some schools, may also involve a move from the Infant School building to the Junior School building

Moving from primary school to secondary school at 11 years

Either leaving school at 16 years or moving to further education

Either leaving further education at 18/19 years or moving to higher education (University) or an adult service

Leaving higher education

Finding work

In addition to these key education transitions, we all have to cope with changes in our environment and ourselves. Again, these can be particularly difficult if you have autism or Asperger syndrome. These changes might include moving house, changing the route you use to get to school or going through puberty in your early teen years.

Who can help me cope with transition? There are lots of people who want to help you cope with change and the most important thing to do is talk to them about what is worrying you. Everyone can find change difficult but talking about it can help and you shouldn’t feel isolated or alone in coping with things which make you anxious. You might talk to your parents or carers. You might have an older brother or sister who can give you support. Or you might have a teacher you trust who can help you develop coping strategies for some of the things which are worrying you.

It is also important that the people who have been teaching and caring for you in one phase of your life talk to and share information with the people who will be teaching and caring for you in the next phase. This will reduce your need to explain what you like and don’t like to a new set of people and will hopefully reduce your anxiety levels.

We have listed a few links below to organisations which offer help and advice to children and remember you can always talk to your parents, carers or teachers about things which are worrying you.

What is the Government doing to help? In May 2007 the Government launched ‘Aiming High for Disabled Children’ which is a set of guidelines, recommendations and funding aimed at improving all disabled children’s services in England. One of the key areas being targeted is the need to improve services for disabled children during their transition to adult life. To address this, the Government announced the Transition Support Programme, which aims to raise the standards of transition support across England. The Programme is now up and running and hopefully improvements will follow shortly. We have included a link to the Transition Support Programme website in the Help section below.

Information for children and young people: Changing Schools: the basics Advice from Need2Know – a website offering children and young people advice and help about all sorts of topics and issues which might affect them.

First day at a new school Advice from Need2Know - a website offering children and young people advice and help about all sorts of topics and issues which might affect them.

Information for parents and professionals: Strengthening the social network of students with autism/communication difficulties with the help of their peers through the participation in a Social Art Group during the transition from Primary to Secondary School Author: Eleni G Konstantinidou Published by: Department of Education, University of Strathclyde Date: 2006

Breaking Down Barriers to Learning Practical strategies for achieving successful transition for students with autism and Asperger syndrome Author: Diana Ennis and Cath Manns Published by: The National Autistic Society, Surrey County Council’s Children’s Service, Partnership with Parents, South East Region SEN Partnership Date: 2004

Music improves morning transitions for children with autismExtract from: Use of songs to promote independence in morning greeting routines for young children with autism, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Author: Kern P., Wolery M., & Aldridge D. (in press) Published by: The University of North Carolina Date: 2006